Improvement in branding-irons



UNITED 'raras`l PATENT Frrcn.

LEWIS STARK, OF CHELSEA, ASSIGNR TO HIMSELF AND FRANK L. PENN EY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN BRANDlNG-IRONS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 87,720, dated March 9, 1869.

To all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lnwrs STARK, of Che]- sca, in the county of Suiiolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Branding-Tools, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of my improved branding-tool. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through thev same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line x a: of Fig. 2; Fig. '4, detail to be referred to.

My present invention particularly relates to certain improvements in branding-tools for which Letters Patent of the United States were granted to me on the 1st day of January,

j A. D. 1850.

Branding-irons constructed in accordance with the aforesaidl Letters Patent answer a very good purpose but owin g to the difficulty of imparting a sufficient degree of heat to the type-blocks, and their incapacity of retaining for a length of time the required heat, the impressions produced are frequently imperfect and unintelligible.

To obvate the above-mentioned difficulties is the object of my invention, which consists in casting or forming the base of the tool, or that portion to which the letters are attached, in such manner that its outer periphery may be carried or projected up so as to form a continuous circular lian ge thereon, the iian ge of the base and the base itself being cast or forged in one homogeneous piece, or made in separate pieces screwed or otherwise secured together; and, in connection with the above, my invention consists in a fluted or corrugated cone, cylinder, or other suitable iuted post, projecting up from the center of the base of the tool, this central corrugated cone or cylinder being also cast or forged in one and the same piece as the base, or in separate pieces secured toy gether, by which construction a more extended surface is provided for the heated fuel tocome in contact with,and the heat isthus transmitted directly through the metal to the base,

by which means the letters or figures of the types are heated to a sufficient degree to pro duce a clear and distinct brand, as desired.

My invention also consists in forming the outer casing of the branding-tool of galvanized iron, being a material peculiarly adapted for preventing the heat radiating from the inner casing from escaping from the chamber between them, thus intensifying the heat, and also preventing the outer casing `from becoming too hot and being soon burned'out--an occurrence incident to the employment of an outer casin g of ordinary sheet-iron.

My invention also consists in a wedge-shaped pin or key, which holds thel type in place, and allows it to be removed in an extremely ready and convenient manner.

And, furthermore, my invention consists in an improved damper for checking the draft to the fuel. 4

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

f In the said drawings, A represents the outer casing, of galvanized metal, thel lower edge of which rests snugly upon a shoulder, a, formed near the upper edge of a circular ange, b, proceeding at right angles up from and cast in one and the same piece with the base B of the branding-tool, the types representing the gures or letters not required to be changed being castinthe base, while theremovable types are held in place by means of Wedge-shaped pins or keys c, Fig. 4, which may be readily removed by pressing down on their tops, which project through the upper side of the base, within the branding-iron. d is a series of perforations through the'flange b of the base, to allowof the entrance of air from without, essential for producing the draft required for the combustion of the fuel placed upon the base and wit-hin the interior of an inner casing, C of ordinary sheet-iron,the inner casin g resting on the inside of the iange b, and being separated by an air-chamber, 5, from the outer casing, A. D is a iiuted or corrugated cone, cylinder, orvpost of othersuitablc form, rising from the center of and cast in one homogeneous piece with the base B and its iange b, this central post being fluted in order to present a greater amount of surface for the heat to come in contact with, and also to allow the air which enters the perforations d iu the iiange bto pass up and facilitate the combustion.

The central post is cast hollow from about the point e to about the point f, where the lower end of the vertical rod E is connected therewith. The tops of the inner and outer casings are united together, and a cross-bar or bridge, G, extends across the interior of the inner casin g, for the passage of the vertical rod E, the top of which is surmounted with a horizontal cross-piece, forming a handle, H, by which the tool is carried about. The vertical rod E passes through a circular top or cover, I, of galvanized metal, the cover being free to be raised on the rod E, to afford access to the interior of the inner casing, to deposit and remove the fuel. The top or cover I is provided with a looped rod, la, which is caught over a hook, l, for holding it upon the handle H when desired.

It will be lseen that the material of both the outer casing, A, and the cover I is galvanized iron, being a non-conducting material, especially adapted or peculiarly fitted for preventing the heat within the chamber 5 from escaping to the outside and being lost, and also being less liable than ordinary sheet-iron to receive and retain excessive heat, whichwould soon burn out the outer casing.

The outer casing is provided with a series of perforations, g, which allow a current of air from without to enter the chamber 5 and pass through perforations h in the inner casin g, C, the perforations h being placed to one side of the perforations g in the casing A, by which construction I am still further enabled to keep the latter from becoming too hot to be conveniently used.

The perforatious d in the flange b of the base may be readilyT closed, if desired, by a perforated sheet-metal ring or damper, K, which is moved by means of a handle, t.

By casting the base B, with its iiange b and central post D, in one homogeneous pieee,and corrugating or luting the post, as described, it will receive and retain a greater degree of heat than heretofore, which will be imparted to the letters and gures, thus causing them to produce a well-defined and inished impression upon the boX, barrel, or other article upon which they are placed.

The igures, letters, or other characters upon the bottom of the brand, which require no change, are east in the same piece of metal as the base B, while those which require to be removed, such as the figures representing the dates and numbers of the article in the package to be marked, after being placed in the groove or recess provided for them, may be readily secured by pressing the wedge-shaped pin into its hole, the type being removed, when required, by pressing it out from the inner side of the base.

It is evident that either the flange b or the central post D, or both of them, may be made in separate pieces from the base B, and be screwed or otherwise secured together, without departing from the spirit of my invention; but I much prefer to form all of them in one and the same piece.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The base B, cast with a flange, b, and central post D, formed in one homogeneous piece, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

LEWIS STARK.

Witnesses:

I. E. TEscHnMAeHEu, W. J. CAMBRIDGE. 

